The Civil War comes to Eastern North Carolina

Thursday

Dec 13, 2012 at 12:01 AMDec 13, 2012 at 9:54 PM

Union takes Kinston; many captured, many wounded

Dr. Lonnie Blizzard, Special to The Free Press

The battle for Kinston, which began on Dec. 13, 1862, continued on Dec. 14, 1862. Some junior officers’ reports separate the two days as Dec. 13, the Battle of Southwest Creek, which is often confused with later actions along Southwest Creek and the Dec. 14th Battle of Kinston. Preferably, to historians, it was a two-day Battle of Kinston.

From Gen. John G. Foster’s report:

“Sunday, the 14th instant, I advanced the column, and when about 1 mile from Kinstonencountered the enemy in strong force. They were posted in strong position in the wood, taking advantage of the ground, which formed a natural breastwork. Their position was secured on their right by a deep swamp and their left was protected by the river.”

Much detail follows in Foster’s official report about how he maneuvered his forces to advance upon the Confederate’s final line of defense.

He continues:

“Which, with the advanced already made (slowly, but surely) of the entire line, forced the enemy to retreat precipitately for the bridge over the Neuse, which they crossed, firing the bridge, which had been prepared for that purpose. Several regiments were so close, however, that about 400 prisoners were taken from the enemy. A line was formed to the river and the fire extinguished before great damage was done.”

Confederate Gen. Nathan Evans’ final line of defense, referred to in Foster’s report, ran from the Neuse River across from the current-day King’s Restaurant and formed an arc behind the current-day Neuse Sport Shop, across U.S. 258 near Measley Road, and tied in to a deep swamp near the current-day Comfort Inn. Only about 800 feet of the earthworks are still standing just east of U.S. 258.

Evans’ 2,000 troops lay in wait at Harriet’s Chapel for the attack to begin. From his official report:

“On the morning of the 14th (Sunday), being informed by Colonel Radcliffe that the enemy was approaching his position, I directed him to open fire while I would attack his left. I ordered an immediate advance, and soon became engaged with my whole line with the enemy in heavy force — supposed to be about 20,000. The action lasted three hours, when ascertaining his greatly superior force, I retired with my command across the Neuse Bridge, when the enemy pursued with heavy fire, stormed the bridge, and drove me back to the town of Kinston, capturing about 400, including no (number of) sick prisoners.”

Evans’ right flank was commanded by Col. Peter Mallet. The bridge across the Neuse was known as the Jones Bridge and was just downstream from the present bridge.

There was also action along the Neuse River. Three navy gunboats and five steamboats were sent upstream to assist Foster’s land forces. Confederate Col. S.D. Pool had a battalion of heavy artillery well entrenched below Kinston on the north side of the river. A combination of obstructions, low water and Pool’s guns kept the fleet from reaching Kinston; however, Evans withdrew his troops from Kinston and proceeded toward Whitehall and Goldsboro on the north side of the river.

Gen. Foster and his troops spent the night of Dec. 14 in Kinston.

A look at history

Local historian Dr. Lonnie Blizzard has written a series of stories about the First Battle of Kinston, which took place Dec. 13-14, 1862; those stories will appear today through Saturday in The Free Press. There is also an opportunity for you to interact with history: